So recently I haven't been hungry. I'm sure it is stress. I don't really feel like discussing it, but I put it out there because yesterday I ate… pretty much nothing. Then I sat and had some beers on the porch with friends. So at least I got some caloric intake, but it also meant that the alcohol hit me pretty hard and I've been somewhat miserable and brain-dead today. Which was crap, since I had to work
This long intro is simply to say I want to write about something superficial and easy. Can it get more superficial than beauty products? Or more easy than a meme? How about a meme about beauty products?
Some of you probably know I am crazy about makeup. It's kind of funny that I don't wear much of it these days. It's turned into special occasion-wear stuff for me. I tend to go more all-out now with it since I don't wear it that often. For work appointments I wear a bare minimum, but most days I go without completely. However, I still love the stuff. It's magical. I love playing with different looks. I love putting it on other people. I love sparkle and glamour. It's just really really fun.
So. I'll answer the meme now.
My Foundation: I've never been much of a foundation wearer, though I keep it around. I have used MAC's Studio Fix line for forever. Literally, I can't remember a time I didn't use it. High school, maybe? I'm a pretty big fan of their foundations and primers generally. But for every day, I just use a tinted moisturizer by Laura Mercier. Love it.
My Mascara: Maybelline Great Lash has been a longtime favorite, but in the past year I have switched to Blinc mascara and that shit is awesome. It does NOT come off. It's pricey, but I think it might be worth it. If I ever have reservations about spending money on it though, I really have always been happy with Great Lash. For some fun, I have some Benefit Lash Lovies in a couple crazy colors – teal, magenta – but I don't wear them nearly often enough.
My Blush: Ooo. I don't have a regular favorite for cheeks. Depending on my look and the temperature outside, I wear MAC Blushcreme in Blossoming, Bobbie Brown Shimmer Brick, Benefit Bene-tint, Benefit 10, Benefit Dandelion… oh, any of the Benefit cheek powders, really, if I'm in a powder mood. And I love Benefit's High Beam and Moon Shine for an extra glow.
My Eye Shadow: MAC or Shu Uemura. I do not own any other brand of eye shadow. By the way, I will never have to buy another eye shadow ever. I literally have every color I should ever need. You name it, I have it. With the exception of canary yellow. I might need that. But I have everything else. In addition to their shadows, I love MAC's Fluidline and Liquidlast liners. I love eyeliners generally.
My Lipstick: Another that I never need to buy again. Though these days I wonder why I buy anything new at all, because they all seem to be the same sheer colors. Favorites: Chanel Scintillantes lip glosses, MAC lip glasses, Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited glosses. Lip Medex.
My Skincare: I drink a lot of water. And I have good genes. Past that…it will sound really complicated but it is just because I have a day and night regimen. In the morning, Lush Angels on Bare Skin scrub, Origins A Perfect World Skin Guardian, and Aveda Botanical Kinetics moisturizer (I also love Lush's Imperialis, but it's wicked expensive for a very small amount and I only buy it once or twice a year as a spa treat for myself). At night, Shu Uemura High Performance cleansing oil, Skin-ceuticals CE Ferulic, and then the same moisturizer. Oh, and sometimes Origins perfect world eye cream, but I can't seem to keep it out of my eyes so sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the pain and tears. When my skin is really dry, pure vitamin E oil. And for the rare times I get a spot, I use Origins Spot Remover. That shit knocks zits out like Tyson! Or something. None of this stuff is cheap, but it lasts a long long time (with the exception of Imperialis).
My Essential Beauty Product: Vaseline. Eye makeup remover, lip balm, moisturizer. I never let myself run out of it.
My Favorite Makeup Product: I can't. You can't make me. But probably lip gloss. My friend Kelly, who I met at my first Real Job in 1997, likes to tell the story about how she used to sit in front of me in our team room at the office. When she first started, she would turn around to ask me a question, and pretty much every time she turned around I was reapplying lip balm or gloss. With my ring finger. And wouldn't stop during my answer.
My Perfume: I like lots. I have lots. Mostly perfume oils from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. Lush's Karma. Adore Jo Malone fragrances. Kiehls Musk. And some traditional ones too – Calvin Klein fragrances, Thierry Mugler, Marc Jacobs, etc. If you'd like a sample, come on over. I'm a fragrance counter, especially if that fragrance counter is in Istanbul.
My Nails: Nothing. I'm too messy and make too many things to have nice nails.
My Feet: Bright colors and moisturizer.
My Hands: Neutrogena hand cream, when I remember.
Three Products to bring on a deserted island: Vaseline, sunscreen
and vitamin E oil.
Woman I admire for their beauty: More of my friends than I can count, but for a few: Nora, Dabney, Kristie H., Anita, Angie, Danielle, Devery, Hollis, Kat, Courtney, my sister. Really too many friends to name, that's just a smattering. As for well-known personas, there are lots of pretty ladies. Angelina Jolie. Drew Barrymore. Zooey Deschanel. Melanie Laurent. Blythe Danner. Gwenyth Paltrow. I don't know. Lots of beautiful celebrities i guess since they have to be, but my friends are most beautiful of all.
Woman with the Best Sense of Style: Allison B, here in Dallas. DJ Bad Holly in Dallas. Frankie in London. Devery. As for famous people, not sure. Jane Aldridge, usually. Tavi at Style Rookie just cause she is fearless. Gala at amlul.com. Carolina at Fashion Squad. Apparently I love teen fashion bloggers. Who knew? More my age… Drew Barrymore. Zooey Deschanel.
What does beauty mean?: Being comfortable in your own skin.
My Favorite Fashion Publication: Said teen fashion bloggers. I hate fashion magazines with a passion. I always walk away from them feeling stupider and hating my boobs. The internet kids make it fun, though.
